Boat steering propulsion system

ABSTRACT

A boat steering propulsion system having laterally inclined thrusters on opposite sides near the bow and the stern, and a selector valve for selecting one or two thrusters to receive pressurized water, so as to steer the boat in accordance with which thruster or thrusters are activated.

United States Patent Canazzi Oct. 14, 1975 [54] BOAT STEERING PROPULSION SYSTEM 892.454 7/ 1908 Ronstrom 60/222 1 mm Dom n 178 323223? 3/333 32331::::::::::::::::'"' 1113:: 12/122 Parkway, Buffalo, NY. 14214 2 Filed; May 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. OConnor [21] Appl' 4682151 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oltman and Flynn [52] us. Cl. 115/12 R; 60/222 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B63h 11/04 A boat steering propulsion system having laterally in- [58] Field of Search 115/12 R, 14; 114/151, clined thrusters on opposite sides near the bow and 114/121; 60/221, 222, 229 the stern, and a selector valve for selecting one or two thrusters to receive pressurized water, so as to steer [56] References Cited the boat in accordance with which thruster or thrust- UNITED STATES PATENTS ers are activated- 658,265 9/1900 Janczarski 115/12 R 18 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,911,851 1 Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 0f 2 BOAT STEERING PROPULSION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As boating has become increasingly popular and as the numberof boats on the waterways increases, there is greater need for boats to be highly maneuverable in tight places. In an ordinary power boat, steerage is afforded by the rudder cooperating with the propeller. In order to maneuver such a boat in a limited space such as at the dock in a marina, the skipper must be rela tively skillful. In recent years, large numbers of people have been introduced to boating as a pleasure sport, and many have not had the opportunity, the inclination, or the time necessary to develop the skill needed to effectively maneuver a conventional boat in tight places.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel steering propulsion system to facilitate maneuvering a boat in confined places. The present steering propulsion system may be used in conjunction with, or in place of, the conventional rudder and propellor systems on boats, or with jet propulsion systems on boats.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel improved boat steering propulsion system.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a system having a plurality of differently directed thrusters which are all under the control of a unitary selector valve arrangement for selecting the direction of boat movement.

In the presently-preferred embodiment, this steering propulsion system comprises starboard and port bow thrusters for discharging water forward and laterally outward, starboard and port stern thrusters for discharging water rearward and laterally outward, and a selector valve connected to the thrusters and having a ported rotor that may be turned to various rotative positions to select one or two thrusters at a time for operation, depending upon the steering direction desired. The thrust axes of the bow thrusters are offset forwardly of the boats center of gravity, and the thrust axes of the stern thrusters are offset rearwardly of the center of gravity for imparting a turning moment to the boat when desired.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a boat equipped with four steering thrusters and a selector valve in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the selector valve in the steering propulsion system on the boat in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the rotative position of the rotor in this valve in its neutral, or stop, position, at which time none of the steering thrusters on the boat in FIG. 1 is operated; and

FIGS. 4-15 are schematic views showing different successive operating positions of the valve rotor for operating one or two selected steering thrusters at a time.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to FIG. 1, the boat 20 illustrated schematically there is provided with port and starboard thrusters 21 and 22 located toward the bow and port and starboard thrusters 23 and 24 located toward the stern. Each of these steering thrusters preferably is a tube which directs a jet of pressurized water away from the boat at an acute angle to the longitudinal centerline 25 of the boat.

In the embodiment illustrated, the port bow thruster 21 exerts a thrust on the boat at 45 rearward and to the right, and the starboard bow thruster 22 exerts a thrust on the boat at 45 rearward and to the left. The respective thrust axes of the port and starboard bow thrusters both intersect the longitudinal centerline of the boat at a point 26 that is located well forward of the boats center of gravity.

Similarly, the port stern thruster 23 exerts a thrust on the boat at 45 forward and to the right, and the starboard stern thruster 24 exerts a thrust on the. boat at 45 forward and to the left. The respective thrust axes of the port and starboard stern thrusters intersect at a point 27 that is located well behind the boats center of gravity.

With this arrangement, if the port bow thruster 21 operates alone, or the starboard stern thruster 24 operates alone, or both of them operate simultaneously while the remaining thrusters do not operate, the boat will be turned clockwise in FIG. 1. Similarly, if the starboard bow thruster 22 operates alone, or the port stern thruster 23 operates alone or theyboth operate simultaneously while the remaining thrusters do not operate, the boat will be turned counterclockwise in FIG. 1. If both stern thrusters 23 and 24 operate while the remaining thrusters do not, the boat will move forward. If both bow thrusters 21 and 22 operate while the remaining thrusters do not, the boat will move rearward. If both port thrusters 2] and 23 operate while the starboard thrusters do not, the boat will move to the right. If both starboard thrusters 22 and 24 operate while the port thrusters do not, the boat will move to the left.

The four thrusters are all connected through respective pipe lines 21a, 22a, 23a and 24a to a manually 0perable selector valve 28, which maybe operated selectively to supply water under pressure to any single thruster or to various combinations of two thrusters to produce the different directions of boat movement just outlined.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control valve 28 has a stator 29 with a single, centrally positioned inlet 30 at the bottom and four circumferentially spaced outlet ports 31, 32, 33 and 34 at intervals around a ring 35 on the stator at the top. The inlet 30 is connected to a suitable source of water under pressure, which preferably is a pipe line extending from the discharge side of the main propellor or other propulsion device (not shown) on the boat. Alternatively, a separate pump may be provided for passing water from outside the boat under suitable pressure into the valve inlet- 30. The valve outlets 3l-34 are connected individually to the respective pipe lines 21a, 22a, 23a and 24a leading to the steering thrusters 21-24, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 3-15, the rotor 36 has a wide radial passage 37 whose inner end communicates with the central inlet 30 of the stator and whose outer end may register selectively with any one of the stator outlet ports 31-34 leading to the respective thrusters 21-24, depending upon the rotational position to which the rotor is turned inside the stator ring 35. The rotor has a similar, narrower second radial passage 38, whose longitudinal axis is 90 clockwise from that of the wider passage 37. Also, the rotor has another similar, narrow radial passage 39, whose longitudinal axis is 108 clockwise from that of passage 38 and 162 clockwise from the axis of passage 37. In the particular embodiment illustrated, each of the outlet ports 31-34 in the stator has an arcuate width of about 15, each of the narrow radial passages 38 and 39 has an arcuate width of slightly less than 15 at the periphery of the rotor, and the wide radial passage 37 has an arcuate width of about 36 at the periphery of the rotor.

FIG. 3 shows the rotor 36 in a neutral or stop position, in which none of its radial passages 37, 38 or 39 registers with any outlet port 31, 32, 33 or 34 on the stator.

FIGS. 4-6 show three different operative positions of the rotor in what may be termed one operating quadrant of the valve. These three positions in the quadrant provide the following operations:

a. slow clockwise turn (FIG. 4), by water supplied via the wide rotor passage 37 to the stator outlet port 31 leading to the port bow thruster 21;

b. reverse (FIG. 5), by water supplied via the wide rotor passage 37 and the stator outlet port 31 to the port bow thruster 21, and via the rotor passage 38 and the stator outlet port 32 to the starboard bow thruster 22;

c. fast clockwise turn (FIG. 6), by water supplied via the wide rotor passage 37 and the stator outlet port 31 to the port bow thruster 21, and via the rotor passage 39 and the stator outlet port 34 to the starboard stern thruster 24.

Thus, in the first operating quadrant of the valve 28, the slow clockwise turn position is separated from the fast clockwise turn position by the reverse position.

The next three-position operating quadrant of the valve provides the following sequence: slow counterclockwise turn (FIG. 7); lateral movement to starboard (FIG. 8); and fast counterclockwise turn (FIG. 9). In FIG. 7, the wide rotor passage 37 registers with the stator outlet passage 33 to pass water to the port stern thruster 23. In FIG. 8, the rotor passages 37 and 38 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 33 and 31 to pass water to the port thrusters 23 and 21. In FIG. 9, the rotor passages 37 and 39 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 33 and 32 to pass water to the port stern thruster 23 and to the starboard bow thruster 22.

Thus, in this second three-position operating quadrant of the valve 28, the slow counterclockwise turn position is separated from the fast counterclockwise turn" position by the starboard movement position.

The next three-position operating quadrant of the valve provides the following sequence: slow clockwise turn (FIG. 10); forward (FIG. 11); and fast clockwise turn (FIG. 12). In FIG. 10, the wider rotor passage 37 registers with the stator outlet port 34 leading to the starboard stern thruster 34. In Hg. 11, the rotor passages 37 and 38 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 34 and 33 leading to the two stern thrusters. In FIG. 12, the rotor passages 37 and 39 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 34 and 31 leading to the starboard stern thruster 24 and the port bow thruster 21.

Thus, in this third three-position operating quadrant of the valve 28, the slow clockwise and fast clockwise turn positions are separated by the forward position.

The fourth three-position operating quadrant of the valve provides the following sequence: slow counterclockwise turn (FIG. 13); lateral movement to port (FIG. 14); and fast counterclockwise turn (FIG. 15). In FIG. 13, the wider rotor passage 37 registers with the stator outlet port 32 leading to the starboard bow thruster 22. In FIG. 14, the rotor passages 37 and 38 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 32 and 34 leading to the two starboard thrusters 22 and 24. In FIG. 15, the rotor passages 37 and 39 register respectively with the stator outlet ports 32 and 33 leading to the starboard bow thruster 22 and the port stern thruster 23.

Thus, in this fourth three-position operating quadrant of the valve 28, the slow counterclockwise and fast counterclockwise turn positions are separated by the port movement position.

It is to be understood that the rotor 36 may have one or more neutral, or stop, positions in addition to, or in place of, the one shown in FIG. 3 (which is midway between the fourth and first operating quadrants). That is, there may be a neutral rotor position between the first and second operating quadrants just described, and/or between the second and third, and/or between the third and fourth.

Preferably, the valve has detents which act between the stator and the rotor to stop the rotor at each of the operating positions shown, but which may be overcome by sufficient manual force applied to the rotor.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be evident that the illustrated embodiment of this invention facilitates steering the boat under the control ofa single easily operated valve that may be used to select for operation any one or any two of the wateroperated steering thrusters, so as to control precisely the direction of boat movement.

I claim:

1. on a boat having a steering propulsion system which includes:

a pair of front thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the bow and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset forward from the center of gravity of the boat;

a pair of rear thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the stern and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset rearward from the center of gravity of the boat;

and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid individually to said thrusters;

the improvement wherein said valve means comprises:

a stator having four circumferentially spaced outlet ports, each connected individually to a corresponding thruster;

and a rotatively adjustable valve member having a plurality of passages for registration selectively with said stator ports in different rotative positions to which said valve member is indexed;

said valve member having fourtseries of three neighboring index positions each and in all of the three index positions in each series connecting a corresponding thruster to receive pressurized fluid;

said valve member in only one of the three index positions in eachof the four series supplying the pressurized fluid to the thruster diagonal from said corresponding thruster, whereby to produce a turning couple on the boat;

said valve member in only another one of the three index positions in each of the four series supplying the pressurized fluid to a thruster located on the boat with respect to said corresponding-thruster so that their combined operation produces a substantially straightline thrust on the boat.

2. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein said stright-line thrust is directed longitudinally of the boat.

3. A propulsion system according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat forward.

4. A propulsion system according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat rearward.

S. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein said straight-line thrust is directed transversely of the boat.

6. A propulsion system according to claim 5, wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to starboard.

7. A propulsion system according to claim 5 wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to port.

8. A propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein: said stator has first, second, third and fourth circumferentially spaced outlet ports; said valve member has first, second and third passages for registration at their outer ends with said stator ports; said first passage in the valve member has a width at its outer end such that:

a. it registers with the first stator port in each of a first series of said index positions to which said valve member turned, whereby to operate a first thruster in each of the three index positions of said first series;

b. it registers with the second stator port in each of a second series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a second thruster in each of the three index positions of said second series;

c. it registers with the third stator port in each of a third series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a third thruster in each of the three index positions of said third series; and

d. it registers with the fourth stator port in each of a fourth series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a fourth thruster in each of the four index positions of said fourth series;

and said second passage in the valve member registers with a different one of said stator ports only in said one of the three index positions in each series.

9. A propulsion system according to claim 8 wherein:

said third passage in the valve member registers with a still different one of said stator ports only in said other one of the three index positions in each series.

10. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein: said stator has first, second, third and fourth circumferentially spaced outlet ports; said valve member has first, second and third passages for registration at their outer ends with said stator ports; said first passagein the valve member has a width at its outer end suchthatza. it registers with the first stator port in each of a first series of said index positions to which said valve member turned, whereby to operate a first thruster in each of the three index positions of said first series;

it registers with the second stator port in each of a=second series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a second thruster in each of the three index positions of said second series;

c. it registers with the third stator port in each of a third series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a third thruster in each of the three index positions of said third series; and

d. it registers with the fourth stator port in each of a fourth series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a fourth thruster in each of the four index positions of said fourth series;

and said third passage in the valve member registers with a different one of said stator ports only in said other one of the three positions in each series.

11. On a boat having a steering propulsion system which includes:

a pair of front thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the bow and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the iongitudinal centerline of the boat and offset forward from the center of gravity of the boat; 4

a pair of rear thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the stern and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset rearward from the center of gravity of the boat;

and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid individually to said thrusters;

the improvement wherein said valve means comprises:

a stator having four circumferentially spaced outlet ports, each connected individually to a corresponding thruster;

and a rotatively adjustable valve member having three passages for registration selectively at their outer ends with said stator ports in different rotative positions to which said valve member is indexed;

a first one of said three passages in the valve member having a width at its outer end such that it registers with a first one of said stator ports in more than one of a series of successive neighboring positions to which said valve member is rotatively indexed whereby to operate the thruster connected to said first stator port in each of said successive positions of the valve member;

and a second one of said passages in the valve member registering with a second stator port in only one of said series of positions of the valve member, said second stator port being connected to the thruster diagonal from said first-mentioned thruster for producing a turning couple on the boat when said valve member is indexed to said one position.

12. A propulsion system according to claim I], wherein:

a third one of said passages in the valve member registers with a third stator port in only a different one of said series of positions to which the valve member is indexed, said third stator port being connected to a thruster located on the boat with respect to said first-mentioned thruster so that their combined operation produces a substantially straight-line thrust on the boat.

13. A propulsion system according to claim 12, wherein said straight-line thrust is directed longitudinally of the boat.

14. A propulsion system according to claim 13,

wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat forward.

15. A propulsion system according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal thrust propcls the boat rearward.

16. A propulsion system according to claim 12, wherein said straight-line thrust is directed transversely of the boat. 7

17. A propulsion system according to claim 16, wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to starboard.

18. A propulsion system according to claim 16,

wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to port. l l 

1. On a boat having a steering propulsion system which includes: a pair of front thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the bow and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset forward from the center of gravity of the boat; a pair of rear thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the stern and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset rearward from the center of gravity of the boat; and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid individually to said thrusters; the improvement wherein said valve means comprises: a stator having four circumferentially spaced outlet ports, each connected individually to a corresponding thruster; and a rotatively adjustable valve member having a plurality of passages for registration selectively with said stator ports in different rotative positions to which said valve member is indexed; said valve member having four series of three neighboring index positions each and in all of the three index positions in each series connecting a corresponding thruster to receive pressurized fluid; said valve member in only one of the three index positions in each of the four series supplying the pressurized fluid to the thruster diagonal from said corresponding thruster, whereby to produce a turning couple on the boat; said valve member in only another one of the three index positions in each of the four series supplying the pressurized fluid to a thruster located on the boat with respect to said corresponding thruster so that their combined operation produces a substantially straightline thrust on the boat.
 2. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein said stright-line thrust is directed longitudinally of the boat.
 3. A propulsion system according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat forward.
 4. A propulsion system according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat rearward.
 5. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein said straight-line thrust is directed transversely of the boat.
 6. A propulsion system according to claim 5, wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to starboard.
 7. A propulsion system according to claim 5 wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to port.
 8. A propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein: said stator has first, second, third and fourth circumferentially spaced outlet ports; said valve member has first, second and third passages for registration at their outer ends with said stator ports; said first passage in the valve member has a width at its outer end sUch that: a. it registers with the first stator port in each of a first series of said index positions to which said valve member turned, whereby to operate a first thruster in each of the three index positions of said first series; b. it registers with the second stator port in each of a second series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a second thruster in each of the three index positions of said second series; c. it registers with the third stator port in each of a third series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a third thruster in each of the three index positions of said third series; and d. it registers with the fourth stator port in each of a fourth series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a fourth thruster in each of the four index positions of said fourth series; and said second passage in the valve member registers with a different one of said stator ports only in said one of the three index positions in each series.
 9. A propulsion system according to claim 8 wherein: said third passage in the valve member registers with a still different one of said stator ports only in said other one of the three index positions in each series.
 10. A propulsion system according to claim 1 wherein: said stator has first, second, third and fourth circumferentially spaced outlet ports; said valve member has first, second and third passages for registration at their outer ends with said stator ports; said first passage in the valve member has a width at its outer end such that: a. it registers with the first stator port in each of a first series of said index positions to which said valve member turned, whereby to operate a first thruster in each of the three index positions of said first series; b. it registers with the second stator port in each of a second series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a second thruster in each of the three index positions of said second series; c. it registers with the third stator port in each of a third series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a third thruster in each of the three index positions of said third series; and d. it registers with the fourth stator port in each of a fourth series of said index positions to which said valve member is turned, whereby to operate a fourth thruster in each of the four index positions of said fourth series; and said third passage in the valve member registers with a different one of said stator ports only in said other one of the three positions in each series.
 11. On a boat having a steering propulsion system which includes: a pair of front thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the bow and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset forward from the center of gravity of the boat; a pair of rear thrusters located on opposite sides of the boat toward the stern and having their respective thrust axes at opposite acute angles to the longitudinal centerline of the boat and offset rearward from the center of gravity of the boat; and selectively operable valve means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid individually to said thrusters; the improvement wherein said valve means comprises: a stator having four circumferentially spaced outlet ports, each connected individually to a corresponding thruster; and a rotatively adjustable valve member having three passages for registration selectively at their outer ends with said stator ports in different rotative positions to which said valve member is indexed; a first one of said three passages in the valve member having a width at its outer end such that it registers with a first one of said stator ports in more than one of a series of successive neighbOring positions to which said valve member is rotatively indexed whereby to operate the thruster connected to said first stator port in each of said successive positions of the valve member; and a second one of said passages in the valve member registering with a second stator port in only one of said series of positions of the valve member, said second stator port being connected to the thruster diagonal from said firstmentioned thruster for producing a turning couple on the boat when said valve member is indexed to said one position.
 12. A propulsion system according to claim 11, wherein: a third one of said passages in the valve member registers with a third stator port in only a different one of said series of positions to which the valve member is indexed, said third stator port being connected to a thruster located on the boat with respect to said first-mentioned thruster so that their combined operation produces a substantially straight-line thrust on the boat.
 13. A propulsion system according to claim 12, wherein said straight-line thrust is directed longitudinally of the boat.
 14. A propulsion system according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat forward.
 15. A propulsion system according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal thrust propels the boat rearward.
 16. A propulsion system according to claim 12, wherein said straight-line thrust is directed transversely of the boat.
 17. A propulsion system according to claim 16, wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to starboard.
 18. A propulsion system according to claim 16, wherein said transverse thrust propels the boat to port. 